Decision on Northern Gateway No Surprise Says Polak
Prince George, B.C. – The Environment Minister for B.C. Mary Polak says the Federal Government's decision to approve the Northern Gateway pipeline was not a surprise "Having said that, our position on the Northern Gateway Pipeline remains unchanged. Northern Gateway still has a lot of work to do to meet British Columbia's five conditions. So far this project has only met British Columbia's first condition, successful completion of the federal environmental review process. There are four other conditions set by British Columbia which have not been met"
Those conditions are:
- World leading marine oil spill response prevention and recovery systems for B.C.'s coastline and ocean
- World leading land, oil spill response prevention and recovery system
- Legal requirement that Aboriginal and Treaty rights are addressed and First Nations are provided with the opportunities, information and resources necessary to participate in, and benefit from the project.
- B.C. receive a fair share of benefits from the project.
"Our government has consistently stated that all heavy oil projects must meet all five conditions before British Columbia will consider supporting them." Polak notes 65 of the 209 conditions set out by the Joint Review Panel for the Northern Gateway project require public consultation and more than 100 of the conditions must be met before construction can begin.
Polak made the comments in the wake of the Federal Government saying it approves the Northern Gateway twin pipeline . In that approval, the Federal Minister of Natural Resources, Greg Rickford, said Enbridge must demonstrate to the National Energy Board how it will meet the 209 conditions set out in the report from the Joint review Panel. "In addition, consultations with Aboriginal communities are required under many of the 209 conditions that have been established and as part of the process for regulatory authorizations and permits" says Rickford, "The proponent clearly has more work to do in order to fulfill the public commitment it has made to engage with Aboriginal groups and local communities along the route."
The pipeline would cover 1,177 kilometers from Bruderheim to Kitimat B.C., where tankers would carry the crude to Asian markets for processing.
Comments
Harper had to say yes as his core of support dictates. With an election coming the safe road is approval and let the company fight it out in the Courts however the Government of Canada, Alberta and BC will all have a battery of Lawyers on the cases, which will cost us all millions and watch for company lawsuits and lawsuits from investors its all going to cost us a bundle. And the big investors are from China so could be interesting they the lawsuits start from all corners. And the decision is all about the next election make no mistake.
“So far this project has only met British Columbia’s first condition, successful completion of the federal environmental review process.”
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A sham! As will everything be that is attached to this project.
They say the project can’t start until the 209 issues are addressed, to funny take a trip to Fort St John and you find all kinds of activity, helicopter company’s working for Enbridge and many more most not hiding the fact. They have been working the line for over 15 months and growing activity as there is a lot of preparation and information gathering that has to take place and some of this work needed provincial permits but were issued to contractor not Enbridge so guess its covered.
The above listed BC conditions are nothing more than **hot** air from our friend Christie Clark.
The BC Coast is the responsibility of the Federal Government.
The Federal Government is responsible for the Pipeline because it crosses Provincial Borders.
The Federal Government has a lot to do with First Nations, and Treaties.
And Alberta is not about to give a lot of money to BC for sitting on their ass and watching the oil go by.
So you can forget about Christie and her so called demands. Nothing more than hyperbole. She made the demands as part of her election campaign. The election is over, she won, and she is **home free** for the next 3 years.
steph99: Northern Gateway has absolutely nothing to do with Fort St. John. It’s a whole mountain range away.
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